Are you ready to transition your business into the Industry 4.0 era?

Industry is changing – getting smarter and more connected. Production will change – and so must the supply chain. This unique programme combines the expertise of one of Europe’s leading institutes of technology and one of its leading business schools.On RWTH Aachen Campus, lab time and demo factory visits combine to give you an action-oriented learning experience. This helps you to build your framework for a factory of the future.At Vlerick Business School, you’ll learn the very latest in strategic supply chain management and leadership. This powerful combination will give you the skills, experience and confidence to master the transition towards a digital factory and supply chain. And as you learn, you’ll be developing an action plan for your organisation – and present it to your board.

Why this programme?

This programme will enable you to:

Demystify Industry 4.0

Build a roadmap to take your company to its own unique journey to smart supply chains

Dive deep into the smart factory – and know how to assess the investment required, as well as likely Returns

Visit a demo plant so that you can directly experience what’s possible

Dive deep into the smart supply chain – and create a plan for digitising and transforming your own supply system

Webinar 1: Engaging on the Digital Supply Chain FrameworkMay 9, 2019 | online | 1,5 hours Transitioning to Industry 4.0 is about so much more than technologies and cost efficiencies. During this webinar, you will get to grips with the framework of how smart factories and smart supply chains integrate.

Course 1: Diving into the Smart FactoryMay 14-15, 2019 | in-class | Aachen This module kicks off in Aachen, at the RWTH Aachen University. You’ll discover what a smart factory is, what kinds of value it creates and how it can create value. You’ll gain a deep understanding of the stages of development needed to create a smart factory. And you’ll get to see a demonstration factory (DFA) of RWTH Aachen Campus in cooperation with WZL of RWTH Aachen University in action.

Webinar 2: Assessing the Action PlanJune 4, 2019 | online | 1,5 hours During this webinar you’ll get feedback on the action plan you’ve created so far. Small groups of participants and faculty will act as a critical friend, challenging your plan and helping you to improve.

Course 2: Diving into the Smart Supply Chain & How to Lead TransformationJune 25-27, 2019 | in-class | Ghent It’s time to break down barriers and re-imagine your business. You’ll discover how supply chains can become an eco-system. You’ll learn how industrial boundaries are changing and creating new opportunities for growth. During this module, you’ll also visit a factory to see how this is already beginning to happen. You’ll look at the shift you may need to bring about in yourself to become an agent of change in your organisation. Last but not least, you will take charge of the second and last part of your action plan.

Webinar 3: Reviewing Your Action PlanSeptember 24, 2019 | online | 1,5 hours After you present your action plan to the board of your organisation, we take time to reflect on it with you. It’s all about putting knowledge into action and action into knowledge.

May 9, 2019

Zeit

Programmpunkte

Webinar 1: Engaging on the Digital Supply Chain FrameworkSpeakers: Prof. Dr. Ann Vereecke, Prof. Dr. Frank T. Piller In this first webinar, we will start with formulating the ambition for the next 20 weeks - the duration of the course. Ann Vereecke will then demystify Industry 4.0 and explain the framework that will be the focal point throughout the full course. You will get a first introduction to the framework by plotting yourself which will act as a base to develop your own ambition towards your action plan. We end by setting the expectations for the next modules.

Assess the Potential of New Technologies for Your Company´s Supply Chain

12.30

Lunch Break

13.30

Supply Chains as Eco-Systems

Importance of Ecosystem Thinking for Your Supply Chain

Smart Supply Chains Are No Longer Linear

How Can New Technologies Help You to Make Best Use of Collaboration Partners within Your Firm´s Ecosystem

15.00

Coffee & Drive to Site Visit

15.30

Site Visit

See How New Technologies Are Used in a Smart Supply Chain. Practical Insight in the Field to Complement the Theoretical Assessment of Our Lectures and Help You to Improve Your Action Plan for Transforming Your Company´s Supply Chain into a Smart One

Focus on Four Main Leadership Activities That Are Needed in a Digital Transformation

Play a Game to Experience the Different Leadership Roles, Their Added Value and How to Use Them in Practice

10.30

Coffee & Networking Break

11.00

How to Lead Transformation Part II

Discussion of Soft Skills That Are Required of a Leader in a Digital Environment and How You Can Develop or Use Them

12.30

Lunch Break

13.30

Sounding Board Action Plan

Discuss Your Action Plan with Your Peers

Discuss Challenges & Next Steps of Your Action Plan

Get Feedback of Your Peers

15.00

Coffee & Networking Break

15.30

Wrap-up

17.00

End of Course 2

September 24, 2019

Zeit

Programmpunkte

Webinar 3: Reflecting on the Action PlanSpeaker: Prof. Dr. Ann Vereecke As in webinar 2, you will be divided into small groups to discuss your action plan so far. ”How can your action plan be finetuned? What are the key learnings of your peers that you can benefit from? Are there any recommendations or feedback to be shared within the confidentiality of your own sounding board? What has been accomplished or what were your barriers to success?” By answering these questions you will be enabled to start the transformation process in your company.